Eggold would serve as the show’s male lead opposite How to Get Away With Murder‘s Famke Janssen, whose character, Susan “Scottie” Halsted, will be introduced in The Blacklist‘s May 5 episode. The May 12 episode, meanwhile, will function as the official backdoor pilot for the potential spinoff.

Rumor has it that Tom and Scottie’s relationship will mirror the Liz (Megan Boone)/Red (James Spader) dynamic. On The Blacklist, Eggold’s con-man character is currently engaged to Liz. (Hope their banquet hall has a liberal refund policy.)

If the offshoot fails to snag a series order from NBC, Eggold would return to mothership as a regular.